2020–2021 BCSC Basic and Clinical Science Course™
2 Fundamentals and Principles of Ophthalmology
Part I: Anatomy
Chapter 1: Orbit and Ocular Adnexa
Orbital Anatomy
Lateral Orbital Wall
The thickest and strongest of the orbital walls, the lateral wall is formed from 2 bones (Fig 1-5):
The lateral orbital tubercle (Whitnall tubercle), a small elevation of the orbital margin of the zygomatic bone, lies approximately 11 mm below the frontozygomatic suture. This important landmark is the site of attachment for the following structures:
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check ligament of the lateral rectus muscle
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suspensory ligament of the eyeball (Lockwood suspensory ligament)
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lateral canthal tendon
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lateral horn of the levator aponeurosis
Excerpted from BCSC 2020-2021 series: Section 2 - Fundamentals and Principles of Ophthalmology. For more information and to purchase the entire series, please visit https://www.aao.org/bcsc.